Expert-Led Training: Proven Methods, Real Transformations

How do I get the same performance in training and in the ring? That is one of the most common challenges in competitive sports. It is something everyone struggles with. “My dog ONLY does that in the ring”.... How often have we said and heard that? The truth is, you CAN get the same dog in training and in the ring! Does your dog work well at home and in your training building, but seem to struggle at trials? Do you have a "different" dog when trialing than when training? Are you getting ready to compete and want to be sure you get the most out of your dog at the trial? This course provides you with critical skills that will improve confidence and consistency in the ring for both you and your dog. The information in this course is relevant to all competitors, from beginners to seasoned veterans.

Fitness is useful for all dogs, but especially for those participating in training and competition in performance sports. Working through a complete fitness workout regularly can positively impact cardiovascular fitness, address flexibility, and add power in muscles which can improve speed. Having improved muscle strength can also help stabilize joints and may help prevent injury.

Do you dread going outside to train, knowing that your dog is going to be head down, sniffing at the first chance that they get?

If you compete in Rally, lateral movement is a requirement, but even if you just want to teach your dog a more solid understanding of heel, this skill is a good one to have. I use sidesteps all the time when I’m heeling, to help bring the dog closer to me, reduce crabbing, and straighten out crooked sits.

Not all dogs are high drive. In fact, most dogs fall into the average- to lower-drive range, and it can be more challenging to motivate them. Handlers often assume they can’t increase a dog’s arousal—that the dog is simply “that way.” But that’s not necessarily true. In many cases, we can increase arousal; we just need to be creative.

It takes some time to develop your eye, and hands to get an idea of how your performance dog's body is feeling.

Play is about more than the toy or the game. It’s a shared experience, shaped by the relationship between dog and handler. The presence, timing, energy, and expectations of the handler influence how a dog experiences engagement, effort, and arousal. This workshop explores play through a relational lens, focusing on how connection, shared intent, and co-regulation support a dog’s ability to stay present and engaged.

Many handlers notice that engagement shifts depending on how involved they are, or that play feels easy one moment and strained the next. Rather than teaching specific games or techniques, this session invites participants to observe how their dog responds within the relationship itself. How does the dog change when the handler is more active, more still, more directive, or more responsive? How does connection support your dog, and when might it ask more than they’re ready to give? How does your dog respond to closeness, interaction, and attention? What does mutual engagement look like for different dogs, and how does it shift under excitement or stress?

Participants will learn how to recognize relational patterns in play, understand why some dogs are more socially driven than object-driven, and explore how small changes in interaction can support regulation, clarity, and trust. By the end of this workshop, handlers often find they feel more confident reading their dog’s responses and more intentional about how they show up in play. This workshop is designed for handlers who want to deepen their understanding of their dog, refine how they engage, and use engagement as a way to notice, adjust, and respond more intentionally.

We invest countless hours teaching behaviors and building chains that look beautiful in training—only to step into the ring and watch everything fall apart. What happened? Why does the dog suddenly struggle?